"Deluxshionist, written by Herdiana Surachman, takes his travels to a more luxurious level, as he reviews high-end restaurants and hotels around the globe. Lately, he has been very centered on trips in Indonesia. Eager travelers in search for a more lavishing experience should definitely look into it. He has quite a classy, fashion-forward sense of style when dressing himself – an indicator of his great taste in everything."

That little mention which inspires me to travel more, whenever there is an opportunity for me to experience genuine travel. Bottom line, I had an opportunity to work with luxury hospitality industry not because it is my travel preference, I don't limit myself to take a chance whether it's leisure or adventure experience, it has nothing to do with my travel preference.

I love to witness the great God creation called nature, visit National Park, and had interactions with animals. But somehow my blog started review luxury resort back in 2012 when the first time I wrote about Amanjiwo Resort and Waisak Night in Borobudur Temple and the posts received a good response even until now on.

Different case, like Alaya Hotel Ubud, on a paper it is 4 stars Boutique Hotel with one swimming pool, one restaurant, Spa, but the service was almost 5 stars class. I believe they are already expanding now, with another restaurant, Manisan Bali and one more pool (I haven't tried it yet, maybe soon)

Another case, one resort in the less touristy spot, they are a resort under big names but now they got under new management now. I had a good time, but not as much as a good time in another resort, so I decided to not talk about them as much as I talked about another resort like InterContinental Jimbaran Bali or Awarta Nusa Dua Bali who have excellent hospitality and service along with value for money per 2016, because everything can change and you could have different experience than me, but I believe they're so fine so good.

When I want to explore, I choose cheaper accommodation, and it was acceptable like when I need be outside during Ubud Writer & Readers Festivals I had stayed in Ubud Inn, when I explore West to East Bali I decided to stay at Berry Biz Kuta, The last day in Phuket I stay at Dara Boutique Hotel, or when in Singapore I choose to stay at Hangout at Mt. Emily. Or you can choose a guest house with local hospitality, it can add an intimate travel experience with locals, learn a new thing from them, even invited to explore hidden gems known only to local people. Also sounds interesting, doesn't it?

That's my short story about my luxury travel experience, so much to come this year, and I also want to have more adventures. Whatever kind of travel you choose, be happy and be free. We'll see guys :) and once again thank you so much Jakarta Post for including me on your list ;). More about the Jakartapost.com article Ten Indonesian travelers who may inspire your next trip

HOTEL R DE PARIS REVIEW - One of the hardest things to find in the world is a chic hotel in Paris during fashion week without making your financial weak, because the city will full of fashion people and absolutely with their gorgeous look for a week, they won't stay in budget hotel hahaha

So the 5* luxury hotels were almost full occupancy and the price per night was rising even twice and three times higher, so check your schedule and bye to the center of Paris, and find the hidden gem somewhere else. So I found this small boutique hotel near Place de Clichy (District 9th), named Hotel R de Paris. What I love the most about this hotel is, they are very Paris in a sense (what does it mean? lol). I need to forget to wake up and looking an Effiel tower in morning, but I loved my experience of stay in this boutique hotel, the staff also nice even there I need to say, there is little of language barrier but they're so nice to me, even surprisingly all people I met in Paris were nice to me, period! Maybe only two girls that acted not so nice, one who I met in an airport who didn't want to help me to buy a train ticket and one girl on the train who was sitting next to me who didn't buy my smile (awkward). Okay next...

I skipped breakfast because I need to go out soon, I was no longer get a jet lag and woke up on time. Order Uber Ride also super easy, flawlessly great. The hotel is actually in the middle of two Paris Metro station, so if you have Paris pass it would be great and nothing to worry about. The only thing you need to know that the Rue de Clichy streets were pretty deserted at night (so avoid to get lost, because when you see on map, the streets in Paris are like a branch, it was not as simple as turn left and turn right)

But I recommend this hotel because it is near the metro station (although I use Uber all the time in Paris LOL), you can also find a mini market, fast food, oh and there are some open bar, Asian food (Vietnamese food), and you can stroll around and the hotel also very comfortable and super clean. The other hotel in the same class that I was look up to because they are equally nice in design is Les Bains Paris & C.O.Q Hotel Paris.

HOW TO SMART TRAVELING IN STYLE - Last year I had an opportunity to work with Men's Health Indonesia and Women's Health Indonesia to share my experience in travel. I only took a chance to spoke twice (in front of the people) last year because only those two that support me for what I am doing. So here I want to share you, how to smart travel with style, although it may be limited in certain ways of travel, maybe you can relate to it someday because most of the people take the photos of themselves. So it better be, it was not only about the beautiful destination but also the way you are traveling itself.

TRAVELING STYLE & DURATIONWhat kind of traveling style you are signed up for? Backpacker, flashpacker, business, leisure, family, solo, romantic or luxury and how long the duration of the travel. Whatever it is, you still can pull off the kind of smart and in the same time full of style. Don't get me wrong, I am not only talking about the fashion side only but more that that. It can be how you take the photograph and capture the moment, or it can be a local experience that can be shared as your ultimate travel story.

DESTINATIONWhether is a big city, cultural, nature you can always have a smart and stylish way of travel. By style means that you can take one item that represents the places you are visiting, for example, simple Yukata when you travel to Japan or buy local fabric when you travel to Sumba island. Museum or coffee shop visit or join the local for hunting and then cooking your own meal. Sounds very in style right?

MEN VS WOMENUnfortunately, whatever are you, it has nothing to do with the gender. The style is all yours to decide. But make sure to responsible with your travel. When you travel with a bunch pieces of luggage, be prepare for excess baggage etc. When you travel light, also make sure you got everything you need. That's what makes the next list is pretty important!

SMART TRAVELIf your travel plan consists so many places to visit, of course, there is itinerary if you want to get lost to make your travel more memorable, be ready with all documents that you need or travel apps in case you need someone else to help you with the directions etc. Debit card for taking money at ATM (it probably more efficient for most of the time).

PACKING LISTList the items to pack to avoid extra budget, or if you do a road trip and want to travel light, also list the item you going to buy why traveling. For leisure travel, you can try your outfits possibility and consider to mix & match. For shopping traveler, get extra luggage from home and extra credit card.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALSTake your very essentials items like personal medication, electronic stuff in your handbag/cabin bag to avoid the possibility of losing you luggage. If you take a lot of pictures do not forget to bring an extra memory card and extra battery.

TRAVEL OUTFIT INSPIRATIONSYou can browse them on Pinterest for a bunch of travel outfit inspirations to make your look stand out, even if you have a little time to make your own mood board, but ya we will never know. More surprise the better! And you can by stuff that curated by Deluxshionist here

TRAVEL PHOTOSince I have worked for the lifestyle magazine, it kinda influenced me (just a little bit) on how I love my photo taken. You can have a lot of inspirations through Instagram, via your favorite style blogger etc. It sometimes hard, because most of the time your travel mates was not a photographer, so in this case, you should be in charge on how good you were in the picture by understanding your own pose, the composition of the surrounding, or a candid shot (which is I prefer the most, because it gives you a sense of natural and less setting result, although it takes so many time to shoot lol)

That's the things you need to check if you want to uplift your travel in style smart way, but it less important than have a good time with a right travel partner, new conversations, new experiences. Like I only care about travel outfit when I am on business travel, media trip, or luxury travel where I mostly will be invited to the dinner. Don't make style when travel is anything that displeases, make it double fun playing with style while gaining new experience in travel. Now you're ready for travel & happy style traveling ;)

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

The first time I have heard the word “Passion” was about 6
years ago, the same year that I started my journey to become a writer/a
blogger. A writer for Men’s Folio Indonesia and a blogger for
deluxshionist.com, still both of it require me to write and I since then I have
found that writing is my passion, writing about my experience or write down my
thought become something that makes me excited.

Excitement makes me happy and happiness makes me alive, that’s what makes me survived through the up and down that life given me
or the doubt that monkey mind chattering me all the time that I can’t do it or
that I should give up, because sometimes fight for your passion is tired as
f**k, eventhough until now I still love what I am doing, even if there is no money in it (sometimes lol),
that’s passion.

I have been seeing so many people giving up their passion
for money, I am on the other side trying to make money through my passion,
writing. Although it is only can buy me a bunch of peanuts even no money at
all, yet I don’t know why I am so happy, something that my mom don’t get it
lol, that’s also the risk, not everyone will understand what you feel.

Through the years of writing became so specific, more to
luxury related things or I am more comfortable to call it something beautiful; beautiful
design, a beautiful destination, beautiful mind and I feel lucky enough that
until now I still have a chance of living my passion, writing my experience on
something beautiful.

Yes, there are barriers and obstacles sometimes when I want
to keep writing something beautiful, although I feel there is no support around me, for example from my family. I don’t have a tree that grows money and gold (yet lol) or I can say, it's always a process, as I am as a
blogger is independently mostly works by myself, although sometimes there will
be someone that help me with the photo shooting, still, I feel need someone that passionate
with that as much as me being passionate about writing, HOWEVER I thank God most of
the time I can handle it, and so many thanks for everyone that have been
helping me and supporting me all this time.

Through this post I only want to say to don’t give up with
your passion, as I am not the first one who said that you will thank them
later, keep inspiring and be inspired no matter what, create, thrive and be
happy, if you can support each other, support your family and your friends,
that all they need from you even you don’t get it their passion is.

If you are still searching for your passion, don’t give up on it
(this is message for myself to do not give up) keep searching, listen the voice
within your heart, keep practicing, and this is the hardest part, do not think
about money at the first place, because if you good at what you are doing, and
what you are doing is your ultimate passion, money – even big money will follow
(this is message for myself #2 ;p)

From here I am thriving myself, the vision becoming clearer
and there is a bunch of happiness from my heart to write this post tonight.
This blog alone is my fruit of passion in writing, as maybe so many
writers' wishes is to write a book, maybe someday I can write my own book. We can call it my long term goals.

However through blogging, I have learned so many things besides
writing, there are interesting things like marketing, negotiating, handling bad
comments and critics sometimes, I have learned how to take a picture, being a
model lol, styling, editing, so many things in one place and the blogosphere
brought me to know and meet with wonderful people, wonderful places, and unforgetable experiences, something that I can’t
thankful enough and it all started because the word passion.

And now, I want to hear about your story too, what is your
passion? And what you have done with it?

*maybe someday we can cross our path to collaborate and do something great in the near future, just please let me know, I really want to hear your story*

5 MILLIONS OF VIEWS ON BLOGGING - Early this year my blog has reached its 5 Millions of views, thank you so much for visiting my blog, wherever you are :). I wish my blog is what kind you were looking for hahaha, and what you read in this blog can bring benefits to you guys in some ways.

There have been love and hate during those times, like when I try to gather a new material to write based on daily life when I feel inspired, hopeful, sad, desperate or when I have a talk with people, saw them argue in social media, or even some surprises when I travel. There are so many things to write but somehow I don't know if it is relatable to you guys because it seems that most of your life is perfectly pictured, but let's be honest, there is no such a thing as a perfect everyday life, isn't it?

I know some of you are trying so hard to be grateful (including me lol), it because almost no one wants to share their sorrow & suffering to the public (including me, hmmm sometimes), although it was not wrong at all to express your sadness, there are some people share it in social media, and that makes me think that even in social media life, there is no such a thing as a perfect everyday life.

There have been love and hate times (or we can say dislike), even when I entered the blogosphere;

LOVE, when I can, actualized my ideas into experience and I share my experience through this platform
LOVE when someone appreciated and supported my ideas
LOVE when someone can relate to my writing
LOVE when someone emailed me that they have inspired by my blog post(s)
LOVE when there are so much opportunity open because of blogging

DISLIKE when I wasn't sure with my writing (lol)
DISLIKE when people impose their will into my platform
DISLIKE when my head full of negativity and I want to blog it up
DISLIKE when I made so many drafts without actually brave enough to publish it (damn it)
and the dislike almost like the opposite, even though I still need to respect it, because it was not all about you.

Through all these years and 5.000.000 views I learned a lot that you just can't stop, because you may make mistakes, you were not satisfied, you angry, but as long as there is a love, you do what you do and thank you so much for all your support :) #KeepBlogging